Container



1942- J. M. HOTHERSALL I 2,299,091

CONTAINER Filed May 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z mgsmozz. BY 3 l fi'r /ewiys v()ct. 20 1942. J M, HQTHERSALL 2,299,091

CONTAINER Filed May 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIHIIIIH l I Patented Oct. 20, 1942 CONTAINER John M. Hothersall, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 21, 1940, Serial No. 336,457

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to containers or cans which are adapted to be inserted into a dispensing device and has particular reference to a can having a key feature associated with a particular brand of product packed in the can and which permits only such special can to fit into the dispensing device so that substitution for a particular brand of product is avoided.

In the sales of products such as automobile oils and greases packed in cans and delivered by way of enclosed dispensing devices, a practice which unfortunately is indulged in at some service stations, is to deliver to the customer a grade of oil or grease which is of an inferior quality to that which he orders. Unless the customer is watchful of the attendant as he inserts the can into the dispenser or takes the pains to inspect the can after it is put into the dispenser, he is not assured that he receives what he asks for.

The present invention contemplates overcoming this difficulty by providing a sealed container which will hold a particular brand of product and which can only be inserted into a dispensing device which is made to take such a can and is so marked. Thus when a customer sees in use a dispensing device plainly marked with the brand of product he wants he is assured that he will receive what he asks for. In some respects this is an improvement of the Elmer L. Nall United States Patent 2,026,588, issued January 7, 1936.

An object therefore of the invention is the provision of a sheet metal can having a key feature adapted to cooperate with a complemental key feature formed in a dispensing device designated to dispense a particular brand of product so that only a can containing such a brand of product will fit into the dispenser and thereby insure delivery to the customer of the brand he requests. Another object is the provision of such a can wherein the key feature is formed in the bottom of the can as an integral part thereof so that it is protected against alteration by unscrupulous attendants and unlike the can disclosed in the Nail patent mentioned above, does not contemplate any seam alteration of a sealed can.

Another object is the provision of a can of this character wherein the key feature is readily adapted to different combinations so that various brands of products may ach have its own combination and will thereby prevent the use of a given brand of product in a dispenser adapted to dispose another brand of product.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the stood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings: a

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom portion of the can shown in Fig. 1; r

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the can shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a dispensing device showing a can in place in the device, the can being shown in section.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate a cylindrical sheet metal can adapted to contain lubricating grease. The can includes a tubular body ll having top and bottom members I2, I3 secured thereto in suitable seams I4, such as the well known conventional double seam.

The top i2 of the can is preferably provided I with a suitable handle I! secured by a plate l8 so that the can may be readily carried. The bottom of the can is substantially flat and resilient and formed with a dispensing opening 2| which is sealed with a frangible disc 22. This disc may be readily broken when it is desired to dispense the contents of the can.

Such a can is adapted to be used in an enclosed dispensing device which substantially conforms internally to the exterior dimension of the can such as shown in Fig. 4. The device preferably includes a cylindrical casing 25 into which th can is inserted after the frangible disc 22 is broken and after a vent hole 26 has been punched in the can top l2. The top of the casing is sealed with a cover plate 28 which is threaded onto the outside of the upper portion of the casing.

The bottom of the casing is formed with a dispensing outlet 3| which aligns with the dispensing opening 2| in the can bottom. This outlet extends down through a nozzle 32 formed on the bottom of the casing. A coupling 33 having a flexible hose 34 connected thereto is threaded onto the nozzle for conveying the can contents to any desired place of application or deposit.

The contents of the can is preferably forced out by compressed air. For this purpose there is provided an inlet valve 36 which is threaded into invention will be apparent as it is better undera side of the casing 25 and its interior is in communication with the interior of the casing. This valve may be connected to any suitable source of supply of compressed air by way of a flexible hose.

Air entering the interior of the .casing surrounds the can and enters the can by way of the punched hole 26 in the top l2. This air exerts its force against a follower plate 38 which is lo- 'cated inside the can and thus presses the plate can. This includes a circular channel bead 4| which depends from the can bottom l3 and is formed preferably around the dispensing opening 2| in an off-center or eccentric position relative to the outside diameter of the can bottom, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. At one place in the bead it is enlarged to form a boss or protuberance 42.

, The bead 4| and the boss 42 in the can bottom are adapted to match with and fit into a locating or key plate 45 which is permanently secured, in the bottom of the casing of the dispenser. This plate is formed with a dispensing opening 48 which aligns with the casing opening 3| and is further formed with a raised panel 41 which is the same shape and which is in the same position as the area inside the channel bead 4| in the can bottom.

Hence the key plate 45 in the casing 25 will fit only that can that has its boss 42 in a matching position and thus no other can will properly fit into the dispenser. Thus when such a can is associated with the same brand of product that is marked on the outside of the dispenser a pirchaser is assured that he is receiving that brand of product.

With such a construction of key feature many combinations may be developed by locating the boss 42 at various positions around the circular channel bead 4| either on the inside or the outside of the bead. and a new series of combinations may be had by adding bosses and varying their receptive locations relative to the bead and to themselves. A corresponding change is also made for each key plate 45 of the dispenser.

Thus any number of brands of products may be given special key features which will fit only in one position within such a dispenser which has a matching or conforming plate in it and in this manner the dispensers may be made to exclude all cans excepting such type as a given dispenser is made to hold.

It is thought that .the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: j

1. A fluid holding container adapted to be inserted into a dispenser of conforming predetermined configuration only, comprising a body, sealed ends on said body, an annular outwardly projecting channel bead integrally formed in the bottom end of said body in an eccentric position therein, and a laterally extending enlarged boss in said bead, said bead and said boss cooperating to form key elements adapted to register in one position only with cooperating key elements in said dispenser when said container is inserted therein.

2. A fluid holding container adapted to be inserted into a dispenser of predetermined complementary configuration only, comprising a body, sealed ends on said body, one of said ends having a dispensing opening therein, a frangible seal secured over said dispensing opening, an annular outwardly projecting continuouschannel bead integrally formed in said end surrounding said dispensing opening, and a laterally extending enlarged boss in said bead, said bead and said boss cooperating to form key elements adapted to register in one position only with cooperating key elements in said dispenser when said container is inserted therein.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL. 

